Adel

Thank you for your comments and feedback regarding school places in the Adel area, an update is provided below.

Further work has been carried out around the demographics and demand for school places in this area. For the academic year 2014/15 the combined Adel schools (Adel St John CE and Adel Primary) had a total of 60 first preferences between them, with 60 places available in reception across both schools. The latest NHS data for children aged under 5 indicates that there are fewer children living nearest to these schools than places available. Although we are unable to predict parental preference, we are aware that both schools attract children from the Adel and Cookridge areas.

Housing developments in the area currently under construction will impact on the demand for places and we estimate that an additional 0.5 forms of entry (15 reception class places) will be required once these are all complete and fully occupied. In terms of creating more school places, we are currently investigating a number of options and are working closely with colleagues from services within Leeds City Council, including Buildings, Planning and Highways.

Some of the work currently being carried out is:

Investigating whether land near to the schools is available and suitable for expansion;

Investigating the highways issues that any school expansion may create and whether these can be adequately addressed;

A review of current school sites to determine whether there is scope to expand without additional land. Initial views at the stakeholder event were that this would be a very difficult option but this needs further investigation to confirm; and

Investigating land identified off Otley Road that could be a potential site for a new school or split site option for an existing school.

Although this work can be timely, we will be providing a further update in the spring term.

As part of the process for identifying options to deliver more school places in the Adel area, a stakeholder event was held on 4 July based on the OBA (outcomes based accountability) methodology. Attendees at the meeting included school governors, head teachers, elected members, neighbourhood forum representatives, parent representatives and members of staff from the capacity planning team, highways and transportation teams, planning and built environment officers.

A number of options were suggested to help meet the growing demand for school places and we would like to hear views and comments on all of the options put forward. Alternatively, if there’s an option you feel has not been covered here please suggest it.

Demographic data showing children aged 0-5 years living in the area was presented and group discussions took place around this. Although there are sufficient school places in Adel for the existing population, participants view was that additional places are required due to housing developments planned in the area.

A summary of the suggestions put forward that would involve expanding existing schools:

Please note that these suggestions may not have been put forward by representatives of the stated school and therefore may not represent that school’s governing body view. In addition, there are also a number of practical barriers to some of the options put forward, including traffic and highways matters. Where sites or land use is suggested, this land may not be available or in Leeds City Council ownership and would therefore need further investigation.

Expand Adel Primary School from 1 forms of entry to 1.5 forms of entry (30 to 45 places in reception)

Expand Adel St John The Baptist C of E Primary School from 1 forms of entry to 1.5 forms of entry (30 to 45 places in reception)

Create a through school at Ralph Thorseby High offering primary and secondary school provision by changing the age range of the school from 11-18 to 4-18, utilising the land on which the former school was located.

Change the admissions policy of Adel St John’s C of E Primary School so only children nearest to this school get priority. The governing body of the school sets its own admissions policy.

Suggestions put forward that would involve new sites:

Please note that no new sites other than those mentioned below have been identified that are currently in council ownership and available for use that would allow the establishment of a new school. Any sites in external ownership would carry an acquisition cost.

Create a new 1 form of entry (30 places) primary school on the former site of the East Moor Secure Children’s Home. This would be very close to an existing good school. Also, the only route to establishing a new school is a free school or competition for a new Academy.

Create an annex to Adel Primary School offering additional school places at the former site of the East Moor Secure Children’s Home.

Move one of the existing Adel Schools, both currently 1 forms of entry (30 places) to an alternative site and rebuild at 2 forms of entry (60 places). Sell off the former site to help fund the project.

Build a new primary school out of the Adel area using council or privately owned sites. The only route to establishing a new school is a Free School or competition for a new Academy.

Create a new 1 form of entry (30 places) primary school on the PAS site off Otley Road. The only route to establishing a new school is a free school or competition for a new Academy. This land is not in council ownership.

This part of the consultation will run for 4 weeks, following which we will looking at all the feedback received during this time as well as information gathered at the stakeholder event, to determine the way forward.

Please note that all comments will pass through moderation before going live. This may take up to 48 hours but we will aim to process them quicker during office hours.